Mitis River facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Mitis River |
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A reach of the upper river
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| Native name | Rivière Mitis |
| Country | Canada |
| Province | Quebec |
| Region | Bas-Saint-Laurent |
| RCM | La Mitis Regional County Municipality |
| Physical characteristics | |
| Main source | Lake Mitis 305 metres (1,001 ft) 48°17′28″N 67°45′17″W / 48.2911111°N 67.7547222°W |
| River mouth | Saint Lawrence River 0 metres (0 ft) 48°37′51″N 68°08′06″W / 48.63083°N 68.135°W |
| Length | 51 kilometres (32 mi) |
The Mitis River (also called Rivière Mitis in French) is a special river in Quebec, Canada. It's known for its salmon and flows into the Saint Lawrence River.
For a long time, a waterfall stopped salmon from swimming far upstream. But thanks to a clever system built in 1965, salmon can now travel along the whole river. This has helped the salmon population grow a lot!
Contents
River's Journey: Where the Mitis River Flows
The Mitis River starts in Lake Mitis, high up in the Notre Dame Mountains. This lake is actually a large reservoir, about 25 kilometres (16 mi) long. The river begins at an elevation of 305 metres (1,001 ft).
From Lake Mitis, the river flows north for about 51 kilometres (32 mi). Many smaller streams join it along the way, making it bigger. Near its end, the river winds through the town of Price. It then flows past two dams, Mitis-1 and Mitis-2. Finally, the Mitis River empties into Baie Mitis, which is part of the Saint Lawrence River. This spot is close to Sainte-Flavie, about 32 kilometres (20 mi) east of Rimouski.
The Mitis River is located between the Matane and Rimouski rivers. It even gives its name to the La Mitis Regional County Municipality. Its main helper rivers are the Neigette and Mistigougèche rivers. The river's water usually flows at a steady rate, thanks to the dams built many years ago. You can follow a path that runs along the river to explore it. The riverbed has large rocks and red clay, which can give the water a slightly reddish color after heavy rain.
River's Name: What Mitis Means
The name "Mitis" was given by the Listuguj Miꞌgmaq First Nation. These Indigenous people used the river as a route to the Saint Lawrence River a long time ago. The name first appeared in an official document about the Seigneurie de Mitis in 1675.
Mitis River Dams: Power and Salmon
In the early 1900s, a local businessman named Jules-André Brillant wanted to create electricity for the region. He bought the land around the Elsie Reford Falls and built a dam there. This dam started producing electricity in 1922. It helped power towns like Matane, Mont-Joli, and Rimouski. Another dam, Mitis-2, was finished in 1947, just below the first one.
In 1963, the government of Quebec took over electricity production and created Hydro-Québec. This public company then managed the Mitis-1 and Mitis-2 dams.
A big change happened in 1965. A special station was built at the Mitis-2 dam to catch salmon. This system then transported the fish above the dams, allowing them to swim much further upstream. Before this, only about 20 salmon could be found in the river. By 1992, the salmon population had grown to an amazing 1,200 fish!
Fun Activities on the Mitis River
The Mitis River is a great place for outdoor activities. People enjoy fishing, canoeing, and swimming here. You can even use inflatable boats to float down the river from the lake.
The Parc de la Rivière Mitis (Mitis River Park) is a lovely spot to visit. It's located across from the famous Jardins de Métis (Reford Gardens). The park has over 3 kilometres (1.9 mi) of hiking trails. It also offers camping sites right beside the Saint Lawrence River, perfect for a night under the stars.
Fishing in the Mitis River: A Salmon Paradise
The Mitis River is one of 22 rivers in the Gaspé Peninsula where you can fish for salmon. Historians believe that the Malécites / Maliseet Indigenous people fished for eels and salmon at the river's mouth long ago.
The river is home to many types of fish. You can find Atlantic salmon, longnose dace, Eastern blacknose dace, slimy sculpin, American eel, and brook trout.
In 1886, George Stephen, who helped start the Canadian Pacific Railway, set up the first fishing camp on the river. His niece, Elsie Reford, later turned this camp into the beautiful Jardins de Métis. Back then, salmon could only swim about 4 kilometres (2.5 mi) upstream because of a 35 metres (115 ft) waterfall. Also, until 1979, logs floating downstream sometimes affected the salmon.
The Mitis River was opened for public salmon fishing in 1977. In 1993, it became a ZEC (zone d'exploitation contrôlée), which means a controlled use zone. This area, called Zec de la Rivière-Mitis, is managed to help with sport fishing. There are three fishing areas, with 33 pools where people can fish, often by wading in the water. The ZEC covers about 20 kilometres (12 mi) of the river. Lake Mitis also has many lake trout, and brook trout are found in the lake and other streams nearby.
In 2015, Quebec's Ministry of Forests, Wildlife and Parks started a program for large salmon. On some rivers, including the Mitis, anglers had to catch and then release large salmon. This was done to help protect the salmon population for the future.
